Frameworks for Companies to Share Data With Researchers [Point of View]

Discusses the ramifications from a privacy and network security point of view given today's systems that offer access to huge amounts of data and database systems. These information and data sharing interactions capture varied aspects of our lives, such as our shopping behavior, our mental and physical health, our likes and dislikes, political and religious opinions, products we shop for, how we drive our cars, how much energy we use, and even more nebulous things such as our hopes and aspirations. Credit card companies record every purchase we make, with the time and place of purchase; companies like Amazon and Netflix not only record our purchases but also our interest in things we merely peruse on their websites. Loyalty cards and digital profiles of our purchases even in brick-and mortar stores such as Target and Walmart and our local supermarkets create a record of all our purchases, easily being able to infer our shopping patterns.